These were the words used by designer EfratÂ Fridenzon at a lecture she gave about her “Precision-decision” collection. Efrat “grew up” at an industrial Â factory that is commonlyÂ usedÂ for production ofÂ mechanicalÂ assembliesÂ andÂ instruments.Â The collection is inspired by the world of precision using measurement tools and targets as key elements in the design. There is a fine line travelling between the physical and spiritual world, which is evidentÂ throughoutÂ the collection.

A series of capsule like pendants which open toÂ revealÂ a compassÂ and aÂ level. In the real world, the compass points to a direction whileÂ theÂ level finds balance. Here theÂ interpretationÂ shifts from the physical world and finds a more spiritual definition: A guide for internal balance.

I love this collection since it is simple, meaningful and unisex. My favorite item is the “Hidden Direction capsule” I think it’s a lovely talisman and could work as a great gift for graduation, newÂ beginningsÂ or for someone who is traveling.

I was telling a new friend about my blog and heÂ immediately sent me a link to Child’s own studio. Here’s the deal, Wendy made a doll for her 4 year old son, based on a sketch he made. Her son was so excited about theÂ softiesÂ and Wendy realized that this was her calling, making dolls out ofÂ childrenÂ doodles. If you’ve been reading this blog since I started it, you will surly remember the post about my avatar doll. Unfortunatly I just learned that the game I love is shutting down. Thanks for my friend i’ll have my pet stay with me, long after the game is gone.

This gift is similar, but even more moving since it uses the child’s own imagination in creating a doll that is truly unique.

I finally got to finish setting up Eli’s Nursery the way I wanted it, when I found an old gift that warmed my heart.Â FirstÂ a little introduction to the history of this gift. When I was 14 years old, I decided that I have to grow up and be a better person. I turned to the greatest role model I could find back then,Â Winnie the Pooh. I would read the books thoroughly, embracing Pooh’s casual outlook on life and learning how to handle myself more gracefully in this world. By the time I was 16, my love to pooh was shared with my close friends. One of these friends (A very dear one until this day indeed), made a beautiful gift for my sweet 16.Â SheÂ drew the map of a 100 acres forest (This was 1996, and colored printers were not veryÂ common), and framed it. I remember how surprised I was toÂ receive this gift. My friend obviously dedicated time and thought in making this gift for me, and it has been very dear to me for me ever since. Another nice touch was that sheÂ wrote the birthday wishes on the back (Which means I can still read them to this day).

ThisÂ photo was hung in my room and in every apartment I lived in ever since, and today it is proudly displayed in Eli’s nursery.

It’s been such aÂ hectic month!!!Â I really neglected my blogging duties, but I have a great excuse. Two months ago, I started my own business as an interior designer. Â I’s been a wild ride so far, I guess I won’t be able to blog as much as I used to for a little while. But stick around, I promise, I will keep writing about great gift idea’s that will really inspire you. Speaking of inspiration;Â TheÂ previousÂ post I wrote inspired me to write about gifts for princesses. I can’t believe I never thought of this before.

2. A true princess remains a princess from the minute she wakes up in the morning until… Well, until forever. Just because the sun is down doesn’t mean that the crown should come off. IÂ absolutelyÂ adore theseÂ Princess BeddingÂ by Snurk.

4. This gift is fit for a real princess, and a real princessÂ receivedÂ it. Baby Ivy Blue is the princess of RNB. For her first birthday sheÂ received aÂ gorgeousÂ diamondÂ embeddedÂ Â Barbie doll.

5. Being a princess isn’t as easy as it seems. Matilda Â can tell you all about it, since sheÂ comes from the palace where she serves the queen. She writes all the secrets about the palace in her diary. A great gift for a new princess who wants to know all about life in the palace.

6. A princess, whether real or make-believe, needs a palace where she can play and read. I especially love thisÂ Princess tentÂ that would serve a young princess for many years of fun and games.

Between you and me, if you feel like a princess, you are a princess. Just remember to wear your invisible crown.

The holidays are coming and gift idea’s and advise are becoming a real necessity. As a new mother I think I became more critical ofÂ children toys. I find myself asking what is the educational value of the toys IÂ receive and as a designer I really want a toy toÂ develop my child’s creativityÂ skills. My boy is far too young to enjoy any of these toys, but here are my top 5 choices for the creative soul.

1. When my boy grows older my husband and I really want him to be the kid wearing a cape. Whenever we see a child with a cape we imagine are baby boy growing to be a creative little boy with superpowers (He already has a secret power, he melts other peoples hearts). I hope he inherits my creativity, and if he does, this DIY Superhero cape will be on his gift list. I love this gift not only because it would inspire your little one to get creative, but also since after the DIY activity is over, this cape will be perfect for dress up games, keeping that imagination running.

2. My not so secret dream is to learn how to sew. I know that one day I would learn how to do it, butÂ untilÂ then I will sulk for not starting at a young age. If you have a creative little girl who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, get her aÂ sewingÂ machine. I really know nothing about sewing machines so I looked at a sewingÂ forum, where everyoneÂ recommendedÂ buying a real machine. I did find aÂ recommendationÂ for this cute Hello kitty machineÂ at the following blog:Â Sew Store-BoughtÂ .

3. I can’t begin to explain how much I love thisÂ Any-mal SetÂ by Notoys. Â The set containsÂ one table/bench and two stools that are painted inÂ chalkboard. Your childÂ can build a castle, a train tunnel, a cat face, a pirateÂ ship or any other image of his heartsÂ desire. All S/he has to do is draw and play. My kid will have this set even if I have to build my own.

4. When I was a girl I collected Barbie dolls I even had a Barbie Â Ferrari, but I never had a Barbie doll house, and I always dreamed of a home for my barbies. I don’t know if this home I found at EtsyÂ can fit 12 Barbies,but it would be a lot of fun to assemble and decorate. I love the idea of a blank house that you can design by yourself, this is probably the reason I became an interior designer.

5. You should understand by now that I approve of spatial toys that create a creativeÂ environmentÂ andÂ enhances imagination. When I was little we used to build playhouses on trees and playÂ make-believeÂ but today there are endlessÂ possibilities for creating such environments. This cardboard construction setÂ is yet another example for a toy that requires assembly skills and would keep your child occupied with his or hers imagination.

I would like to note that even though some toys seem like they are for boys and others are more likely to fit girls, I would most definitelyÂ consider a girlÂ super-heroine or a boyÂ fashionÂ designer. I was always playing with the boys and grew up to be a girly girl adult with some boyish skills. So break the gender patterns and give those kids something to think about…

When Eli was born, one of my friends asked me what would I want as a gift for him. I asked for some colorful bunting for his room, since she knows how to sew. You know how it goes… She got busy, I didn’t pick the fabric and in the end she started feeling very uncomfortable about it, thinking that I was disappointed of her. This, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth. Why would I beÂ disappointedÂ in a wonderful friend who wanted to make a custom made gift for me???Â This is one of the problems I find that a lot of people have with gifts. They fear that oneÂ wouldn’tÂ like the gift, or that if they are giving it a long time after theÂ celebrationÂ day, that the gift would somehow won’t worth as much as it would if presented on time. In my opinion this is reallyÂ ridicules! I don’t want people to give me things for the sake of giving. And I don’t wantÂ people to be concerned about what they got me or when they gave it to me. There is no expiration date on gift giving and there shouldn’t be. The funny thing is that I still haven’t gave her, her birthday gift since June… I want to make her something special, but I need to find time to do itÂ properly, but that’s a whole other post, and so is this one…

Getting to my point…. I saw a great circus animals craft project by Flamingo ToesÂ and posted about it on Facebook. IÂ receivedÂ a message from my friend suggesting we get together and make a mobile for Eli, so weÂ scheduledÂ for the next day and had a great morningÂ crafting together. I loved the outcome so much I told my friend that this should beÂ theÂ gift to Eli from her. After all this is more than a gift, it is a wonderful memory.

In the end, the animals came out so cute, I don’t want to “waste” them on a mobile Eli will grow out of… I think I’ll either frame them or use them as box toppers… In any case, I love them!